.22 long revolvers ever made?
- Thread starter tim71
- Start date
- Status
"Young American" revolvers were manufactured by Harrington & Richardson from the early 1900's through about 1940. The .22 caliber version was supposedly chambered in .22 Long (not Long Rifle) and the cylinder had 7 chambers. However at least one reference states that they were chambered in .22 Long Rifle (standard velocity). They will of course shoot .22 Short cartridges which are still available. Barrel lengths were 2, 4 1/2 or 6 inches. Buyers could choose between blue or nickel finishes.
I suspect that earlier guns were chambered in .22 Long, where later ones with cylinders made from better steel could handle standard .22 Long Rifle cartridges. Given the general overall quality of the gun I suggest that sticking to .22 Short rounds wouldn't be a bad idea.
I suspect that earlier guns were chambered in .22 Long, where later ones with cylinders made from better steel could handle standard .22 Long Rifle cartridges. Given the general overall quality of the gun I suggest that sticking to .22 Short rounds wouldn't be a bad idea.
Is there really that much of a pressure difference between Longs and Long Rifles that it would matter which was used? I'm curious because for as long as I can remember my grandfather has been stuffing Long rifles into a H&R Young American.
No, in standard velocity loads there isn't. Some high-velocity .22 Long Rifle loads may be another matter. The problem is with the age of the gun. The cylinders were never heat treated and the steels that were used weren't the best. However later production revolvers had better materials then the early ones. Because there is no shoulder in the chambers - the are bored straight through - all of the Young America's will chamber a Long Rifle cartridge. Your Grandpa's gun may be fine, or he may be living on borrowed time. It's hard to say.
The original Smith and Wesson "Lady Smith" was an early 20th century hand ejector chambered for what was called The .22 Smith and Wesson. It was identical to the .22 long ctg and most historical references to the revolver call it a .22 long.
Some of the Alamo revolvers imported pre 1968 were also labled .22 long
Some of the Alamo revolvers imported pre 1968 were also labled .22 long
Last edited:
BluesBear
member
The .22 Long and .22 Long Rifle cartridges were originally loaded with black powder and the pressure difference was neglible.
Almost any revolver found with a cylinder long enough for .22 Long but too short for .22 Long Rifle should be considered a black powder weapon.
Standard velocity .22 Long Rifle ammo should be safe enough for most of those old revolvers. Since standard velocity .22 Long ammo was dropped well before my time you just ain't gonna find any. CCI CB longs don't count and should be safe in any gun they'll fit in.
I'd be careful about High Velocity ammo in those old H&R revolvers.
I won't say they'll blow up but I have found many many of those old BP guns with bulged chambers. That old non-heat treated metal could stretch.
And please don't even think about trying to shoot Stingers or similar stuff!
Bulged chambers is also a very common condition with old BP .32 Long revolvers.
Almost any revolver found with a cylinder long enough for .22 Long but too short for .22 Long Rifle should be considered a black powder weapon.
Standard velocity .22 Long Rifle ammo should be safe enough for most of those old revolvers. Since standard velocity .22 Long ammo was dropped well before my time you just ain't gonna find any. CCI CB longs don't count and should be safe in any gun they'll fit in.
I'd be careful about High Velocity ammo in those old H&R revolvers.
I won't say they'll blow up but I have found many many of those old BP guns with bulged chambers. That old non-heat treated metal could stretch.
And please don't even think about trying to shoot Stingers or similar stuff!
Bulged chambers is also a very common condition with old BP .32 Long revolvers.
Buy some CCI .22 Long ammunition for your .22 long revolver.
Better yet buy some low power CCI .22 Long CB ammunition.
CCI is the only American Company still producing cartridges in this configuration.
.22 Long revolvers have a 1 in 12 or 1 in 13" twist designed to accomodate the 36-39 grain .22 short bullets that were loaded into the longer 'long' case.
40 grain .22 long rifle bullets won't shoot worth a hoot in these old guns even if you can get the cartridges to fit in the cylinders.
In addition these old revolvers were not the pinnacle of the gun makers art and even standard velocity .22 long rifle ammunition will put more strain on the gun than it was designed to tolerate.
Modern .22 shorts and .22 longs generate about 19,000 to 21,000 foot pounds of pressure.
Believe it or not, modern .22 long rifle ammunition generates 36,000 to 39,000 foot pounds of pressure.
The result of shooting the wrong ammunition in these older revolvers will be a broken gun in a suprisingly small number of shots.
Better yet buy some low power CCI .22 Long CB ammunition.
CCI is the only American Company still producing cartridges in this configuration.
.22 Long revolvers have a 1 in 12 or 1 in 13" twist designed to accomodate the 36-39 grain .22 short bullets that were loaded into the longer 'long' case.
40 grain .22 long rifle bullets won't shoot worth a hoot in these old guns even if you can get the cartridges to fit in the cylinders.
In addition these old revolvers were not the pinnacle of the gun makers art and even standard velocity .22 long rifle ammunition will put more strain on the gun than it was designed to tolerate.
Modern .22 shorts and .22 longs generate about 19,000 to 21,000 foot pounds of pressure.
Believe it or not, modern .22 long rifle ammunition generates 36,000 to 39,000 foot pounds of pressure.
The result of shooting the wrong ammunition in these older revolvers will be a broken gun in a suprisingly small number of shots.
- Status
